Attachment of webbing strip or the like, and novel frame support and attaching means



2,839,126 ATTACHMENT 0F WEBBING STRIP 0R THELIKE, AND NOVEL June 17, 1958 R. A. O'NEILL FRAME SUPPORT AND ATTACHING MEANS IN VENT OR Filed Dec. 14. 1953 ATTORNEY United States Patent ATTACHMENT OF WEBBING STRIP OR THE LIKE,

AND NOVEL FRANIE SUPPORT AND ATTACH- ING MEANS Ralph A. ONeill, Huntington, W. Va.

Application December 14, 1953, Serial No. 398,063

9 Claims. (Cl. 155-178) This invention relates to the attachment of webbing strip or the like to metal framework, and comprehends novel methods, means, and finished products. More specifically, the invention is directed to the attachment of plastic webbing strip to the metal frame of furniture and the like.

An important object of the invention is a novel attachment of plastic material to a metal frame involving a novel metal extrusion providing a slotted hollow therein enclosing barrel clips secured to the plastic material.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of furniture with an extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy frame having a plastic Webbingstrip attached thereto in secure relationship, and yet conveniently removable therefrom for purposes of replacement or repair.

Still further objects of the invention include an ex truded hollow metal frame capable of supporting a load and functioning as a securing means for strip material; a hollow metal frame with a barrel clip webbing attachment fully contained therein; an extruded metal frame having a plurality of tubular openings or hollows extending longitudinally therethrough, a side wall of the frame having a longitudinally disposed slot opening communicating with one of the hollows; a method of attaching plastic strips or the like to a metal frame; all as herein described and claimed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, description and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective fragmentary view of a chair seat illustrating an application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view looking at the inside corner of Fig-. ure 1.

Figure 3 is a disassembled View of the barrel clip and webbing strip.

' Figure 4 is a View of the barrel clip and strip assembled in crimped attachment.

Figure 5 is a sectional View along the line 5-5 of Figure l, and showing the assembly with the frame.

Figure 6 is a view of the inside wall of the frame looking in the direction of the arrow of Figure 5, but showing a modification of Figure 5 to provide dimpling means on the frame as additional prevention from sliding of a barrel clip on the frame.

Figure 7 is a view in cross-section of the novel extruded metal frame along the line 77 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a triplehollow extruded metal frame of aluminum or aluminum alloy having the longitudinal tubular hollows 2, 3, and 4 extending lengthwise throughout the same. Hollows 2 and 4 are cylindrical, while hollow 3 is rectangular, as clearly shown in Figure 7. Hollows 2 and 4 are bounded by continuous cylindrical or non-broken surfaces, while the rectangular or intermediate hollow 3 is discontinuous or broken in its continuity by communicating with a slot opening 5 which extends longitudinally in the side wall of frame 1. The rectangular hollow 3 has flanges 12 and 2,839,126 Patented June 17, 1958 13 which terminate at rounded edges at the slot 5, thus constituting opposed lips, as shown in Figure 7. These lipped flanges provide a seating for the cylindrical wall of the barrel clip thereagainst when the strip 9 is in secured position. The frame 1 is provided with cut-out portions defining enlarged openings 6 and 6, and as shown in Figure 2, these openings are preferably provided adjacent the curved corners produced by bending the frame. As shown in Figure 3, a metal barrel clip 7 having a slit 8 is adapted to receive the end of a plastic webbing strip 9, and the clip is crimped on the strip to securely fasten the clip and strip together. The strip securely crimped to the barrel clip is shown in Figure 4, the end 10 of the strip extending into the hollow of the clip. The assembled clip and strip fastened thereto is inserted, preferably after winding three quarters around the perimeter of the frame, in an enlarged rectangular opening 6 or 6' and moved either to the left or right respectively so that the strip lies in the narrow portion of the slot 5. By locating the enlarged openings at-both ends of the corner bends, as shown in Figure 2, the barrel clips bind snugly when located at desired points without interference of enlarged openings, and enables bringing of the plastic strips closer to each other when desiredduring assembling.

By winding the plastic strip three-quarters around the perimeter of the extruded frame as shown in Figure 5, there is enough friction between the strip and the frame to make sliding out of position very difficult.

In the event that the strip 9 becomes broken or torn, it may be easily and conveniently replaced by moving the barrelclip and attached strip to a position in coincidence with an enlarged opening 6 or 6 and then withdrawn therethrough. The barrel clip may then be opened or uncrimped, the strip detached therefrom, and a new strip replaced in the clip, crimped in the barrel clip, and the barrel clip reinserted in an opening 6 or 6' and moved again to a selected position in the frame. If desired, after. the barrel clip with attached strip is withdrawn through an enlarged opening, it may be discarded and replaced with a new clip and strip.

Figure 5 shows one webbing strip therein, and corresponding strips shown interlaced in Figure 1 are inserted in the enlarged openings 6 and 6 and are moved to selected positions to form parallel strips, spaced as shown by the numeral 14 in Figure 1. Since a number of parallel strips can be entered and removed through a single enlarged opening such as 6 or 6', the enlarged openings are preferably provided in the frame 1 adjacent the corners thereof along the slot 5 as shown in Figure 2. As shown, there is an opening 6 for strips to be moved to the left thereof, and an opening 6' for strips to be moved to the right thereof. While one corner bend only is shown in Figure 2, enlarged openings opposed to those shown are provided in other corners for insertion of the other ends of the strips which have barrel clips attached thereto in the manner shown in Figure 4.

From the above description, the method of assembling the chair seat shown in Figure l is clear; the plastic strip 9 is first cut to a predetermined measured length. A barrel clip is crimped at each end of the measured strip. Each clip is inserted at an opposite corner through the enlarged openings with the strip Wound three-quarters around the frame perimeter. Then the plastic strip is stretched manually to enable the operator to slidethe barrel clips to desired strip location on the frame. With manual release of the stretched plastic, there is suflicient tension therein to cause the cylindrical faces of the respective barrel clips to seat and bind on the inside surfaces 12 and 13 of the lips of the slot 5. In addition to the tension of the plastic strip, the winding of the strip around the frame, as shown in Figure 5, causes enough 3 friction between the plastic and frame to make sliding of the plastic strip diflicult'.

Figure 6 shows a modification to further insure against sliding of the plastic strips after they are .placed inposition. Dimples 15 on both sides of the strip 9'areiind'ented in the lips or flanges of the hollow 3 along the slot This can be done by means of a round punch and hammer blows. However, as indicated hereinabove, the plastic strips are under sufficient tension so that without dimpling, it is very diflicult to slide the barrel clips in either direction within the hollow 3. p

The webbing strip is preferably polyethylene plastic, but it may be Saran7 or any other suitable material. In carrying out the method, the material should have the stretchability and resiliency or elasticitycharacteristic of polyethylene plastic, so that it can be stretched out of position to permit proper assembly, and return to normal position thereafter.

The plastic webbingstrip 9 may be perforate or imperforate; it may be extruded, woven or otherwise fabri'cated. it will also be apparent that the invention is not limited to strips, and may be applied to material in sheet form, etc. It will also be clear'thart'the enlarged openings hereinabove described may belocated at other positions than those described. It will also be understood that in assembling a strip to the frame, tension may be applied to the strip before or after insertion of a barrel clip in the frame.

The metal frame is preferably extruded aluminum or aluminum alloy, but it may be made of any metal that is sufliciently strong to act as a supporting, frame for the purpose desired. The frame may be of any desirable shape. For example, the front of the seat frame shown in Figure 1 may be saddle shape. The invention is not limited to seats; it may be appliedrto backs, footrest's, etc.

The preferred form of the supporting frame is shown in the drawing. it is strong and rigid, and except for the bending at the corners as shown in Figure 2 bythe application of unusual force, the flanges defining the longitudinal slot opening are rigid and non-bendable out of their extruded plane, and they support the transmitted load in use without bending out of position.

' The invention is not slavishly restricted to a frame having tubular hollows thereof in the shapes specifically shown in Figure 7, as the hollows in cross-section can be round or circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, etc., or even in unsymmetrical shapes.

The advantages of the invention will be readily apparent. No screws or bolts are needed, thus lowering the cost of production and also providing smooth, even surfaces without unsightly projections that may engage or tear the clothing of the user or of those coming in contact with the same. The frame itself acts as an important element of the fastening means for the strip, and thus performs the double function of serving as a strong support as well as a fastening element. The hollow extruded frame provides a maximum strength with a minimum of weight. The barrel clip is of simple. constructional design that lends to low cost manufacture, While the combined cooperation of the clip and frame effectively releasably secures the stripv easily and positively. Other advantages, including those of inexpensive assembly, will be apparent.

While, the invention is especially useful in. articles of furniture, it is not limited thereto, as it may be applied to any construction where a suitable material is to be attached to a supporting frame economically and efficiently.

As used in the specification and claims herein, the term tubular is not intended to be limited to the cylindrical form, but is intended to embrace any tubular construction irrespective of either its cross-sectional or longitudinal configuration, including rectangular, hexagonal, etc.

Modifications may be made by those skilled in the. art within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is lim-' in and defining flanges in. a wall of the hollow portion, .a

barrel clip having a strip, connectedly attached thereto lying within. the hollow portion and slidably movable therein, the strip passing through the slot opening,.and the flanges of the wall adjacent the slot opening contacting the barrel 'clipto releasably secure the strip to the frame- 2. In combination, an extruded hollow metal frame supporting member for attaching, webbing strip thereto, the frame having a slot opening longitudinally disposed in a side wall thereof and communicating with said hollow, a fastening element, a webbing strip secured at an end thereof to the fastening element, said fastening element lying wholly within the hollow of the frame and the webbing strip secured thereto extendingthrough the slot opening of the slotted side wall of the frame, said fastening element being in frictional contact with the slotted side wall to secure the webbing strip to the frame, said fastening-element being sli-dably movable to selected location, the frame supporting member having three hollows extending longitudinally in parallel relation, the slotted side wall of the frame communicating with the aforesaid hollow located between two laterally disposed hollows.

3. In an article of furniture, a rigid metal frame having a longitudinal hollow therein, said hollow having a longitudinal slot opening, a barrel clip slidably movable to selected location in said slotted hollow, and a webbing strip connectedly secured to said barrel clip and wound at least around the outside perimeter of said frame.

4. In an article of furniture, an extruded aluminum metal frame having a plurality of tubular hollows extending longitudinally therein, one of said hollows extending longitudinally'therein intermediately between said other hollows, said intermediate hollow in the frame-communicating with an inside Wall of the frame by a longitudinally disposed slot opening therein, said wall having a plurality of enlarged openings therein along said slot and communicating with said intermediate hollow.

5. In an article of furniture, an. extruded aluminum metal frame having at least one tubular hollow extending longitudinally therein, said hollow communicating with an inside wall of the frame by a longitudinally disposed slot opening therein, said wall having at least one enlarged opening'therein along said slot and communicating with said hollow, a metal fastening element having a plastic webbing strip fastened thereto, saidfastening element lying within said hollow, said plastic webbing. strip passing through the slot at a position spaced from said enlarged' opening only and releasablyattached to the frame.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a combined supporting frame andfastener comprising an extruded metal frame having a plurality of parallel longitudinal tubular hollows therein, one of the hollows having a longitudinally disposed slot opening in the side wall of the frame and defining opposed'flanged lips at the slotted opening.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a combined. strip, supporting frame and fastener comprising an extruded metal frame having three longitudinal tubular hollows therein in parallel relation and defining an intermediate hollow disposed adjacent two other hollows, and a longitudinally disposed slot openingin the side Wall of the frame communicating with the intermediate hollow and defining opposed flanged lips in said wall, the slot being,

interrupted by enlarged openings.

8. In an article of furniture, anextruded metal frame,

having at least one tubular'hollowrextend'i'ng longitudinally therein, said hollow communicating with a wall. of the frame by a longitudinally disposed slot opening therein'd'efining opposed. relatively rigid non-bendable flanged lips, said slot opening having a cut-out portion defining and defining opposed flanged lips in said wall at the slotan enlargement of said slot opening, a metal fastening ted opening.

element having a webbing strip fastened thereto, said fas- References Cited in the file of this patent tening element lying Within said tubular hollow, and said webbing strip passing through the slot opening at a po- UNITED STATES PATENTS sition spaced from said cut-out portion only and releas- 620,591 Jackson Mar. 7, 1899 ably attached to the frame. 818,111 Naysmith Apr. 17, 1906 9. As a new article of manufacture, an extruded metal 984,939 Krile Feb. 21, 1911 supporting frame having three longitudinal tubular hol- 1,724,946 Maclnerney Aug. 20, 1929 lows therein in parallel relation and defining an interme- 10 2,354,728 Asaro Aug. 1, 1944 diate hollow disposed between two other hollows, and 2,457,343 Braunschweiger Dec. 28, 1948 a longitudinal slot opening disposed in a Wall of the frame 2,630,170 Ewing Mar. 3, 1953 communicating with the aforesaid intermediate hollow 2,657,916 Burd Feb. 2, 1954 

